VANCOUVER — Any clients sailing with Emerald Waterways should know that the river cruise line just upped its value proposition with the launch of a new customer loyalty program, EmeraldEXPLORER.

A points system allows passengers to climb tiers with each trip taken to receive more benefits. All members of EmeraldEXPLORER, regardless of their tier level, receive member-only savings and offers on sailings as well as discounts on referrals to friends for both the referrer and the friend, advance notice of brochure releases, a subscription to EmeraldEXPLORER magazine, a complimentary piece of luggage and invitations to exclusive events.

All Emerald Waterways guests will be automatically enrolled in the EmeraldEXPLORER loyalty club upon completing their first sailing, and will earn points based on itineraries and cabin types.

A guest sailing on any European cruise would earn between 140 points daily for a stateroom and up up to 190 points daily for a Grand Balcony or Owner’s One Bedroom Suite. Travellers earn loyalty points on all Emerald Waterways sailing in Europe, Southeast Asia, Russia as well on as the new Dalmatian Coast yacht cruises.

All guests will start at the Silver membership level following their first sailing, and move through the loyalty tiers as they accrue more points to earn additional benefits.

Here’s a look at the program’s tiers:

• EmeraldEXPLORER Silver: With 1-4,999 points, guests earn $200 per person welcome home voucher toward any future sailing and a Silver Emerald Waterways backpack.
• EmeraldEXPLORER Gold: With 5,000-9,999 points, guests get $200 per person welcome home voucher and a Gold Emerald Waterways backpack and Gold Emerald Waterways backpack or satchel.
• EmeraldEXPLORER Diamond: With 10,000-24,999 points, guests earn $250 per person welcome home voucher and a Diamond Emerald Waterways backpack, satchel or sports bag.
• EmeraldEXPLORER Platinum: With 25,000+ points, guests earn $300 per person welcome home voucher and a Platinum Emerald Waterways backpack, satchel, sports bag or cabin case.

Part of Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Emerald Waterways’ seven Star-Ships offer river sailings in Europe and exclusive charters on the RV Mekong Navigator and Irrawaddy Explorer in South East Asia, the MS Rossia along the Volga River and the Adriatic Princess II in Croatia.

Meanwhile Scenic’s 15 Space-Ships offer truly all-inclusive, five-star river cruises in the same destinations as well as the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar and the Volga River in Russia.

In 2018 Scenic is introducing what it calls the world’s first Discovery Yachts, Scenic Eclipse, which will launch in August and take 228 guests on polar adventures as well as the Mediterranean, Caribbean, the Americas and Europe. A sister ship will launch in 2020.